UEFA EURO U21 Championships

Ballack wrote:Mancienne was better.

In 8 games? He most of been impressive.

The Easter Bunny wrote:

L-r d wrote:

The Easter Bunny wrote:

Ballack wrote:

The Easter Bunny wrote:

Ballack wrote:

The Easter Bunny wrote:I reckon Nedum would get in there because of his pace, never seen Mancienne play RB before

That's all he's played for us when he's been on the pitch for us this season.

I haven't watched a full (90mins) Chelsea game when he has played.

So what you should have said was 'You've never seen Mancienne play'.

Brilliant!

All I was suggesting is that Onouha has a lot of raw pace and he has been in the City team for the past 2 seasons, how many games has Mancienne played for Chelsea?

How good is the City defence?

LRD who would you rather have?

Mancienne he was great at Wolves and been in the full England squad. The other guy has played a lot but hardly been impressive.

With Lippi threatening to call up some of the Azzurrini stars for the Confederations Cup, Casiraghi might have to make do with a depleted sqaud for this one.

Motta, Santon, Esposito, Bocchetti, & Rossi are the main ones in doubt here. They would all make the Azzurrini starting XI this summer, if they are available. Azzurrini attack could survive without Rossi, but their defence would be badly hit without 4 of their players!

Trying to guess the Azzurrini squad:

Gks: Consigli, Sirigu, Fiorillo.
Defenders: Motta, Santon, Bocchetti, Criscito, Santacroce, Marzoratti, Esposito, Di Silvestre
Midfielders: Cigarini, Dessena, Marchisio, Abate, De Ceglie, Candreva, Morosini
Strikers: Balotelli, Acquafresca, Giovinco, Macheda, Osvaldo

Thats my guess. There are some who could make it:
- Seculin, Pisano, Andreolli, Capelli, Rubin Matteo, Cerci, Lanzafame, Poli, Paloschi, Di Gennaro, Pozzi

Thats about it, IMO. Rossi will certainly be in Lippi's squad, so he is out. The ones in BOLD above could also be called up by Lippi, so could be ruled out.

Likely Starting line-up:

Second team:

Isnt Macheda a little young for the u-21's? i believe he's just 17. I know he;s played first team football but still he'll be one of youngest there and maybe it wouldn't be so wise. Though pyshically he wouldn't be out of place.

L-r d wrote:Isnt Macheda a little young for the u-21's? i believe he's just 17. I know he;s played first team football but still he'll be one of youngest there and maybe it wouldn't be so wise. Though pyshically he wouldn't be out of place.

Santon is 1991 born as well (like Macheda), and Balotelli is 1990 born. What I found surprising was that all 3 of them were ignored from the Euro U17 championship squad earlier this month even tho they were eligible. Clearly in Italy they believe these kids are ready for the U21 stage, which is a huge change from the typical Italian mentality.

Infact Santon has just got a call up to the senior team by Lippi, which is a shocker for his age - the last two teens who debuted for Italy were Buffon and Maldini, and Santon is a year younger than their debut age!! No teenager has represented Italy in the World Cup (at least in the last 25 years that I have watched football) and Santon might just buckle that trend!!!

debaser wrote:Andrew Driver (Hearts)

Anyone know anything on him? Never heard of..


Pretty decent squad. Plenty of PL regulars there.

Hart
Mancienne-Richards-S.Taylor-Gibbs
Milner-Noble-Rodwell-Johnson
Agbonlahor-Walcott

Gabby + Walcott is a bit too pace and nothing else - but, even still, teams will struggle against that sort of pace.

Driver is a very promising winger, i expect him to go to a lower prem team in the summer after impressing for Hearts over the last 2 seasons.

Without doubt Onuoha has to play be it prob for Mancienne but if not for him then for Richards. He has been awsome this season, he has prob been as good as Richards was last season. I cant believe how much he has improved.

England team has a very good keeper and defence with decent options upfront (very fast indeed) However, the midfield looks a bit weak and might be our achilles heal.

Sgoater wrote:

Pretty decent squad. Plenty of PL regulars there.

[center]Hart
Mancienne-Richards-S.Taylor-Gibbs
Milner-Noble-Rodwell-Johnson
Agbonlahor-Walcott

Isn´t Taylor out for the Euros?

L-r d wrote:

The Easter Bunny wrote:

L-r d wrote:

The Easter Bunny wrote:

Ballack wrote:

The Easter Bunny wrote:

Ballack wrote:

The Easter Bunny wrote:I reckon Nedum would get in there because of his pace, never seen Mancienne play RB before

That's all he's played for us when he's been on the pitch for us this season.

I haven't watched a full (90mins) Chelsea game when he has played.

So what you should have said was 'You've never seen Mancienne play'.

Brilliant!

All I was suggesting is that Onouha has a lot of raw pace and he has been in the City team for the past 2 seasons, how many games has Mancienne played for Chelsea?

How good is the City defence?

LRD who would you rather have?

Mancienne he was great at Wolves and been in the full England squad. The other guy has played a lot but hardly been impressive.

No offence but jesus christ, ballack / lrd two posters who have put city down recently have just given an incredible indidcation they have not watched us this season. Onuoha has been brilliant, he is on the verge of the England squad. Id go even as far to say he has been as good this season as Richards was last season, fast, strong, good in the air and at ease with the ball at his feet. I cant believe how good he has been. Mancienne was great at Wolves i agree but that was in the championship whilst yes he got in the England squad, he never played. Onuoha has been playing amazing week in and week out in the best league in the world.

kroesius wrote:

Sgoater wrote:

Pretty decent squad. Plenty of PL regulars there.

[center]Hart
Mancienne-Richards-S.Taylor-Gibbs
Milner-Noble-Rodwell-Johnson
Agbonlahor-Walcott

Isn´t Taylor out for the Euros?

Yeah i think he actually might be mate, i was just quoting from another post.

Yes, Steven Taylor and Danny Welbeck have pulled out because of injury.

Richard Stearman (Wolves) and Danny Rose (Spurs, on loan to Watford) have been called-up as the replacements.

Cesc Soler wrote:

Richard Stearman .

One letter away from being a murderer. Luck

Shame Wheater couldnt make it..but at least Jinky will get some time.

Onuoha was our best defender in the last tournie but Taylor got all the credit from Brian Marwood and the other twats on SKY

Huge blow losing Taylor, the team will be weaker without him.

Taylor isnt very good

As if you would know one way or the other.

Why wouldn't i? He's not a very good defender..or player.

Because you don't watch Newcastle, simple as that. Too many people on this board act like experts on things they aren't educated on.

Kimbo wrote:Because you don't watch Newcastle, simple as that. Too many people on this board act like experts on things they aren't educated on.

Priceless .........

Spain squad
Goalkeepers: Sergio Asenjo (Real Valladolid CF), Roberto Jiménez (RC Recreativo de Huelva), Antonio Adán (Real Madrid CF).

Defenders: Chico (UD Almería), César Azpilicueta (CA Osasuna), Nacho Monreal (CA Osasuna), Sergio Sánchez (RCD Espanyol), Marc Torrejón (RCD Espanyol), Miguel Torres (Real Madrid CF), Iván Marcano (Real Racing Club).

Midfielders: Javi Martínez (Athletic Club Bilbao), Raúl García (Club Atlético de Madrid), Esteban Granero (Getafe CF), Sisi (RC Recreativo de Huelva), Javi García (Real Madrid CF), Mario Suárez (RCD Mallorca), José Manuel Jurado (RCD Mallorca), Pedro León (Real Racing Club), Diego Capel (Sevilla FC).

Forwards: Bojan Krkić (FC Barcelona), Adrián López (Málaga CF), Xisco (Newcastle United FC), Jonathan Pereira (Real Racing Club)

Can't think of any obvious omissions?

Italy's Squad

Goalkeepers: Andrea Consigli (Atalanta BC), Salvatore Sirigu (Cagliari Calcio), Andrea Seculin (ACF Fiorentina).

Defenders: Marco Andreolli (US Sassuolo Calcio), Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa CFC), Domenico Criscito (Genoa CFC), Paolo De Ceglie (Juventus), Lino Marzoratti (Empoli FC), Marco Motta (AS Roma), Francesco Pisano (Cagliari Calcio), Andrea Ranocchia (AS Bari).

Midfielders: Ignazio Abate (Torino FC), Antonio Candreva (AS Livorno Calcio), Alessio Cerci (Atalanta BC), Luca Cigarini (Atalanta BC), Daniele Dessena (UC Sampdoria), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Piermario Morosini (Vicenza Calcio), Andrea Poli (US Sassuolo Calcio).

Forwards: Robert Acquafresca (Cagliari Calcio), Mario Balotelli (FC Internazionale Milano), Sebastian Giovinco (Juventus), Alberto Paloschi (Parma FC)

Italy's squad looks very strong. No Santacroce though which is surprising...no Santon either but he's probably going to the Confed Cup.

Players I'm looking forward to seeing...

Spain

Suarez, Martinez, Bojan, Marcano, Torrejon, Granero, Leon

England:

Johnson, Driver, Rodwell, Walcott

Italy:

Balotelli, Giovinco, Cigarini, Acquafresca, Abate, Dessena, Criscito

Germany:

Marin, Ozil, Beck, Khedira, Castro (anyone know why Kroos hasn't been picked)?

Serbia:

Kacar, Sulejmani

Calidad wrote:Players I'm looking forward to seeing...

Spain

Suarez, Martinez, Bojan, Marcano, Torrejon, Granero, Leon

I'm looking forward to seeing Xisco, i wonder if he's any good. Hopefully he plays.

Calidad wrote:

Italy's Squad

Goalkeepers: Andrea Consigli (Atalanta BC), Salvatore Sirigu (Cagliari Calcio), Andrea Seculin (ACF Fiorentina).

Defenders: Marco Andreolli (US Sassuolo Calcio), Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa CFC), Domenico Criscito (Genoa CFC), Paolo De Ceglie (Juventus), Lino Marzoratti (Empoli FC), Marco Motta (AS Roma), Francesco Pisano (Cagliari Calcio), Andrea Ranocchia (AS Bari).

Midfielders: Ignazio Abate (Torino FC), Antonio Candreva (AS Livorno Calcio), Alessio Cerci (Atalanta BC), Luca Cigarini (Atalanta BC), Daniele Dessena (UC Sampdoria), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Piermario Morosini (Vicenza Calcio), Andrea Poli (US Sassuolo Calcio).

Forwards: Robert Acquafresca (Cagliari Calcio), Mario Balotelli (FC Internazionale Milano), Sebastian Giovinco (Juventus), Alberto Paloschi (Parma FC)

Italy's squad looks very strong. No Santacroce though which is surprising...no Santon either but he's probably going to the Confed Cup.

I am not too surprised with the squad, its a strong one overall.

Gks - no surprise at all
Def - No Santacroce is the biggest surprise (is he injured??)- its not like he is playing for the azzurri. But Andreolli is an able replacement. Esposito has also been left out, maybe a hint that he coudl extend his stay at the Azzurri beyond his upcoming debut. Santon most likely is going to make the Azzurri squad - it will be a tragedy it he doesn't travel to the confed cup, and misses out on this one as well!!
Mid: Very much on expected lines, no surprises here! Its a strong midfield.
Strs: The key players are included (Acquafresca, Balotelli, Giovinco) but I am a bit surprised on the inclusion of Paloschi over the likes of Osvaldo/Macheda. Ok, Macheda is perhaps too young but for Osvaldo this is perhaps his last chance to represent the Azzurini. But not too surprised, as Paloschi is more of a CF, and Casiraghi is perhaps looking for a like to like bench.

Overall, the azzurini will miss out on the services of Santon, Rossi, & Santacroce, but still have a competent squad. I am looking forward to this championship!

Kimbo wrote:

Calidad wrote:Players I'm looking forward to seeing...

Spain

Suarez, Martinez, Bojan, Marcano, Torrejon, Granero, Leon

I'm looking forward to seeing Xisco, i wonder if he's any good. Hopefully he plays.

I totally forget he was at Newcastle! I've never really seen him play either, so I wonder the same thing.

This tournament just got interesting

http://en.u21fantasy.uefa.com/

L-r d wrote:Taylor isnt very good

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1071404.html?cid=rssfeed&att=

Fins plan for Theo

Ray Parlour wrote:http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1071404.html?cid=rssfeed&att=

Fins plan for Theo

"It's going to be a hard task. We're going to have to double up on him on occasions and not leave him one-against-one because he is going to outpace anyone. He can't fucking play, mind."

Pierre Littbarski wrote:

Ray Parlour wrote:http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1071404.html?cid=rssfeed&att=

Fins plan for Theo

"It's going to be a hard task. We're going to have to double up on him on occasions and not leave him one-against-one because he is going to outpace anyone. He can't fucking play, mind."

Please like they'd say that in an interview.

germany without baumjohann and kroos, hopefully is that not a mistake ffs